Abstract
Introduction: Nurses face significant stressors in their daily work, which can lead to occupational burnout, negatively impacting both workforce stability and the quality of care provided. This study aims to identify key determinants of stress among nurses and explore effective coping strategies to inform the development of targeted interventions.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 428 actively practicing nurses in Poland, utilizing the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Mini-COPE) questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) to assess coping strategies and burnout dimensions (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment). Questions related to experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic were also included.
Results: Over 78% of nurses reported high or very high stress levels during the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than half experiencing increased fatigue. The analysis revealed that 24.3% of participants were at risk of occupational burnout, with emotional exhaustion as the predominant dimension. Interestingly, nurses with either poor or very good financial status employed more effective coping strategies than those with average financial stability. Significant differences in coping patterns were observed based on demographic and professional characteristics.
Conclusions: Occupational burnout remains a critical issue among nurses, exacerbated by external crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Interventions focusing on adaptive coping strategies, stress management training, and systematic workshops on burnout prevention are essential to support nursing staff. Addressing systemic challenges such as workload and financial disparities may further enhance resilience and wellbeing in this vital profession.